Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah announced on Tuesday that the shelved Padma Bridge graft case will be revived, revealing that substantial evidence was ignored and the accused were unjustly exempted from trial. Speaking at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka, Abdullah criticized the original investigation report as flawed and incomplete, stating, “We have decided to revive it with a comprehensive, evidence-based submission.”
He highlighted irregularities in consultant hiring, violations of procurement laws, and “malafide intentions” behind changes to evaluation committees. The 2012 case was closed despite the World Bank suspending its $1.2 billion loan over corruption concerns. Seven individuals, including former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, were initially charged but later released. The ACC chief confirmed a new independent investigation is underway to ensure justice is served.
